Numerous stories alleging past abuses in the Guatemalan adoption system have hit the presses. As you can see from the links below, some are from official government communications. Admittedly, I'm havng a hard time following the exact details of these. And I apologize that we do not have translations for the links.
Basically you have one account of an allegedly kidnapped child adopted to the US. The child's picture apparently was used in numerous files. Paperwork was provided with at least two names. There's also an investigation into a judge who declared this child abandoned. Charges apparently being brought against someone in the US who is not named. Lastly is mention of "research" done about what authorities are discovering in regards to where and how corruption occurred.
My commentary on this is take it seriously. We all have a sad legacy of corruption and aggregious crimes to contend with, not to mention of course the direct victims. Secondly, don't jump to conclusions. Trust me that the complexity and intricacies of the old system made anything possible. There's no way to know who knew what. We can't differentiate well between what may have been pathetically weak homework and what may have been active involvement in a crime. I could go on and on about this but will leave it at that.
I can't express my dismay regarding these things. They are not areas I ever imagined possible that have any tie to how we all grew our families. They are not a reflection on all adoptions. Yet they are something we all have have to address with our children...
http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2009/mayo/25/312319.html
http://www.dca.gob.gt/nacional4.html
That's one incredible story. It will be a really BIG one if the alleged mother is able to prove her claim via a DNA test. I agree with your conclusion that, while stories like this are not a reflection of all adoptions, we need to address this with our children.
Posted by: gregg at May 29, 2009 10:15 AMMaybe this hitting the press there right now explains why the DHS section at the Embassy is not releasing our file. Our case was approved by a FC judge rather than PGN, so I wonder we had the "bad" judge, or if DHS now will suspect every case coming through the Embassy.
Posted by: Lisen at May 29, 2009 04:17 PMThis kind of thing makes me shudder with "what ifs". Our daughter (not yet home--over 2 years in process and she is now 5 years old) was born in Escuintla--the district mentioned in this case. It creeps me out to think some judge could have declared her abandoned if that was not the case. It is ridiculous
to think of finding the birth mother myself and investigating the truth--anyone can see that could be a REALLY bad idea, esp if she doesn't WANT to be found!!! But then it leaves adoptive parents with the possibility of finding out one day that their child was taken illegally from the birth mother! I wonder what will happen with this if it is found to be true. How awful for all concerned. But you know, the news coming out now in Guate is that infants and children are being abandoned on the street because children's homes are closing (due to a lack of funding and an inability of homes to meet Hague requirements). What is the resolve? It seems the regulations the Hague imposes are causing most 3rd world countries to fail at providing care to vulnerable children and making it virtually impossible to get adoptions underway again. Maybe I can't see the whole picture--I guess no one can!
Tracy wrote: "Our daughter...was born in Escuintla--the district mentioned in this case. It creeps me out to think some judge could have declared her abandoned if that was not the case."
FWIW, I was told by a US adoption professional *over seven years ago* that there was a Court of Minors judge in Escuintla who was "pro-adoption" and would issue Certificates of Abandonment without the supposedly-required search of birthfamily investigation procedure. I certainly can't imagine that *all* of the CofAs this judge has issued over the years were fraudulent, but I myself am personally aware of two CofA cases (both 5+ years ago now) that were 'laundered' through the Escuintla Court of Minors as neither case was expected by the (Guatemalan) facilitators to get a CofA if an investigation for birthfamily willing and able to parent the child was conducted - and the facilitators' goal was adoption, not re-placement of the child with birthfamily.
this is just *my knowledge* of two Escuintla CofA cases several years ago, and of what was told to me by a US adoption professional even longer ago.
FWIW
Lee
Posted by: Leigh at June 1, 2009 12:37 PMHow sad for the Monahan family of Missouri -- I wonder what they have to say about the situation, or if anyone has told them.
Posted by: GuatMom at June 9, 2009 04:35 PM